Cnc Faces Tall Task Against Hu Tonight

Coach C.J. Woollum doesn't know what to expect from his Christopher Newport College basketball team tonight at 7 against visiting Hampton University.

"Hampton is the best team we'll play the rest of the season," Woollum said of the only Division II team left on the Division III Captains' schedule.

"The biggest thing is we're going to have keep them off the glass and from continually dumping the ball inside. If we don't do smart things, the size differential could really hurt us."

The Captains (7-3) hope to neutralize HU's huge height advantage in the frontcourt. Woollum is most wary of 6-foot-10 center Marvin Childs and 6-8 forward Keith Hunter, two major forces in the Pirates' 8-2 start.

"Childs has improved so much from last year," Woollum said. "He's headed toward greatness and is a pro prospect if he continues to improve. We can't let them post up on us all night and get second and third shots."

CNC enters the game with several walking wounded.

Freshman guard Shawn Walker (8.1 ppg) will miss the game with an injured right ankle that has been put in a walking cast.

Leading CNC scorer Lamont Strothers (26.2 ppg) is still nursing a leg injury he sustained two weeks ago and Jamie Chappell is still not 100 percent recovered from a foot injury he sustained in the preseason.

"Young guys like Markeo King and Russell Brown are going to have to step up and give us a lift," Woollum said.

CNC's confidence should be bolstered by the memory of last year's game at HU. The Captains led by 14 points in the second half before losing 70-68 on Kenny Brown's shot in the final seconds.

"We made a good statement in that game last season and because of that they won't take us lightly," Woollum said.